Basic Wing Tutorial

My wing tutorial that I 'donated' to the UK ponycon last year, to be in the Customizer's Bible.

1- Materials: Wire, wire cutters, a pointy clay tool (or ice pick or large needle), pliers, wire mesh, scissors to cut it (not good scissors, or you'll dull them), apoxie sculpt or similar clay, and an exacto knife and / or butter knife to add detail.

2 - Using your sharp implement, poke two holes on the pony's shoulder, where you want the wing to attach. They should be fairly close together, but far enough apart to help stabilize the wing.

3 - Cut a piece of wire twice as long as you want your wing, and then loop it over. Make it good and long, you can always cut it shorter.

4 - Insert the two ends into the two holes on the pony. I use pliers to help me do this.

5 - Twist the two ends of the wire together, so they can't pull back out.

6 - Twist the loop of wire together into a single strand, and shape it as the top edge of your wing.

7 - Cut out the shape of your wing in wire mesh. Sometimes I use two pieces, sometimes just one complete piece.

8 - Crimp the top of your wire mesh around the wire backbone of your wing. (use pliers, unless you have a very soft mesh that you can crimp by hand)

9 - This step is optional, but I sometimes cut the feather tips into the edge of the mesh.

10 - Apply a backbone of clay from the shoulder to the arch of the wing. Let this harden fully before continuing to work, so that it can support the rest of the wing.

Apply feathers in whatever style you wish! It's best to work in sections, and allow each to harden as you go. When applying detail with your knife, it's best to wet it often, so that the apoxie doesn't stick to it.